Service Learning opportunities, April 11

Promising Pathways Conference needs volunteers to help provide respite for families that want to attend the Promising Pathways Conference at FGCU on April 14 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Temple Grandin, well-known self-advocate for people with autism, will be presenting. See information on the FGCU website at http://www.fgcu.edu/events/promisingpathways/. Contact Lynn James at 239-699-0985, Jamie Melendez or Shay Thomas at 239-267-2181.  Volunteers also needed at the conference.  Students may sign up to assist for part or all of the day at Alico Arena.  Volunteers may attend the presentations as well.  Contact Dr. Gischel at cgischel@fgcu.edu.

Keep Collier Beautiful: Join the big cleanup event on April 14 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more information visit www.keepcollierbeautiful.com. Contact litternot@earthlink.net or call 239-580-8319.

FGCU Graduation: Volunteers needed to play an important service and public relations role at both commencement ceremonies (10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.) on April 29 at Alico Arena.  Duties may include assisting ushers, managing the door, answering guest questions and lining up candidates.  Hours also can be earned for the volunteer orientation held the week prior.  Contact Lauren Cargo at lcargo@fgcu.edu.

Harry Chapin Food Bank:  Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive is recruiting individuals or teams to pre-sort and prepare the food left at mailboxes by the generous residents of Southwest Florida on May 12 for transit to Food Bank warehouses.  Volunteers can sign up to work at a specific post office location for an 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift or a 2:30 p.m to 6 p.m. shift.  Contact Bedzaida at bedzaidabryen@harrychapinfoodbank.org to get the volunteer form and guidelines.  For this event, it is very important that you are able to stand, lift, bend and be outdoors for the entire shift.  Call Bedzaida at 239-334-7007 X141 with questions. 

Estero Bay Preserve State Park: Enjoy the outdoors? Ever feel like we have a huge impact on the environment? Are you ready to make a difference and need service hours? Well, then come volunteer at the Estero Bay Preserve State Park. Close to FGCU, off of Corkscrew Road and 41. For more information, contact Scott Stimpson at scott.stimpson@dep.state.fl.us.

Lakes Regional Park: Help with a program for children’s tours of the gardens from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a weekday or Saturday at 9 a.m. Concepts that may be included are: Importance of plants to the earth, plants and insect interdependence, kinds of propagation, composting and nutrients and ability of plants to filter water. Contact Susan Moore at botanicgarden.moore9@gmail.com or 239-481-7845.

FGCU Food Forest is a student-run botanical garden which highlights tropical and subtropical edible species that grow well in South Florida and is right here on campus. They need students to help on most Fridays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Contact them before you go at foodforesters@eagle.fgcu.edu.

ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization): Help out with agricultural development. Fill out a volunteer application at www.echonet.org. For questions, contact Ruth at rmay@echonet.org.

Koreshan State Park Historic Site: Students welcome every Wednesday at 8 a.m. Simply show up on time at 3800 Corkscrew Road; the gate opens automatically at 8 a.m. Long pants and closed toed shoes are required; they suggest water and gloves.

Heartland Gardens: Did you know that FGCU alums started this nonprofit? They have a 1,700 square foot raised labyrinth and they’re landscaping the entire acre with edible plants. Help with your financial expertise, business background, economic background, bookkeeping and data entry skills, public relations or communications background or assist with newsletters, e-blasts, or grant writing. Contact Andrea at andrea@heartlandgardens.org or call 239-689-4249.

Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium: Numerous opportunities. Contact info@calusanature.org or call 275-3435.

Naples Botanical Garden Horticulture gardening starts at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and includes weeding, potting, moving plants, digging, raking, sweeping, clearing debris, etc. Wear closed toe shoes. No shorts or tank tops. Bring water. Wear sunscreen. Bring work gloves if you have them. Looking especially for groups of students on Fridays. No last minute requests. Give four to five day lead time. If you commit, then can’t make it, give notice. Be on time. Email Sally Richardson at srichardson@naplesgarden.org.

Rookery Bay: Help give out literature, talk to visitors about the Learning Center or assist with children’s craft. Contact Susan Maunz at susan.maunz@dep.state.fl.us or call 239-417-6310 x412.

Sustainable Living and Interconnected Education (SLIE): So much of what needs to be done will be decently challenging labor, digging, building raised garden beds, constructing water capturing vessels and their gutters. Contact Hunter Preston at slieinc@yahoo.com or 239-245-3250.

Lee County Sheriff’s Youth Activities League: Help now through summer. Thursday at 3 p.m. at the board meeting, or flyer creation on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., or telecommute phone via Skype. Contact Katie at 239-898-6090 or Katie@katieromano.com.

Bonita Springs Assistance Office: Help this primary social service agency and serve the community in assisting needs of clients, enhancing public speaking presentations, or writing informational materials. Contact Maribel Slabaugh at Maribel@bonitaassistance.org or 239-992-3034.

Education for Collier Would love strong, committed volunteers. Workshops in the Take Stock program needs students to help in the ACT testing areas of Math, English, Reading, Writing and Science every week. Sessions held at Grace Place in Naples. Choose Monday or Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Contact Linda Morton at lindamorton@educationforcollier.org.